Construction of flexible aeroplane wings with variable profile



Nov. 6, 1928.

U. ANTONI CONSTRUCTION OF FLEXIBLE {\EROPLANE WINGS WITH 'VARIABLE'PROF-ILE Fil'ed Dec. 23.1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 1 n a R A y/Q 5 a 7a 0 2 m S 4 p ..3 9m o .2 N. w 3 l! ow w a o 5 0 9 8 U .(5 5 7 6 a Q, 4 1 1 2 u. ANTON? v CONSTRUCTION OF FLEXIBLE AEROPLANE WINGS wl'rn VARIABLE FROFILE Filed limo. $23, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet V 2 I219. j 6 6 s 1/ 2 1/ Q Q o T 55 0T 0 F 0 {0 .9 .9 r0 7 7 Iqlycg of obtainin a quick members having Patented Nov. 6, 1928.

UNITE-D STATES 7, 1,690,765 PATENT. OFFICE.

ceo an'rom, or vmnneero, ITALY. I

CONSTBUGTION OF FLEXIBLE AEROPLANE WINGS WITH VARIABLE PROFILE.

Applicationjiled December 23, 1926, Serial No. 156 741, and in Italy April 22, 1926 Means are already known for'varyin the profile of aeroplane wings vwith the object change of speed and a variation 0 the carrying capacity of a wingat the will of the pilot. i

The improvements object offlthe presentinvention relate on the contrary to the proper construction of the vwing substantially consisting of two parts, one witha variable profile controlled by the pilot, theother automatically flexible.

V The automatically flexible part consists of a various number of deformable members arranged towards the fuselage, conveniently tapering and proportionately less flexible towards the front edge, with only one lever controlled by the pilot, the prolongation of saidlever forming the front edge )llSt mentioned.

In corres ondence of the tail edge on the contrary t e u per part of the internal frame of the de ormable member is attached by pivot to the corresponding spar.

The part with variable. profile is also formed by a variable number of deformable two levers fulcrumed be- The lever towards the front edge and the lever of the deformable members of the flexiblepart are erfectly equal. The lever of the back end orms by its projection the armature of the deformable member.

In correspondence to the throu h bores of the spars the levers are provi ed with-- recesses aboveand below to receive the endof fiexible'strips fixed 'in said r wit one end towards the front edge, the straps low to the spars.

awn

being able to slidekin the corresponding recesses within the ack levers, this arrangement bein provided for the part with variable pro e.

As'to the automaticall flexible part the strips, fixed as above sai are prolonged to the back end of the wing and connected to each other at this end by independent triangular armatures, these armatures' being on one side rigidly joined to the strips, their bases on the contrary .abutting against each other.

The two armatures are connected by any elastic means whatever, which, while allowing them to go awa 'from one another during the flexure of t e strips prevent fiexure from taking place in a contrary direction.

Said strips are guided by convenient sleeves of difl'erent height in which they slide, these sleeves keeping constant the thickness, that is the profile of the wing. The levers mentioned are united by connectmg rods to a driving axle.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

. Fig. 4 1s a planview of Fig.3 while Figs.

5 and 6 show sections on lines aa and b-b of Fig. 3 illustrating the recesses on the corresponding levers and strips. I

The fore part of the deformable members of the part with variable profile (Figs. 3

and 4) is formed by fastenings 1 fixed to the edge 2, the hole 3 for the passage of the spar 4, the 'internal prolongation or armature formin the lever arm 5 and the parts 6' and ,7 m which therecesses for the strips ends 8 and 9 are provided.

Said part is rotatably connected below to the spar 4 by pivots 10 while above it slidesbetween the guides 11 and 12 rigidly joined to the upper part of said spar. The end of lever 5 1s unlted b the connecting rod 13 to the arm 14 rigi' 1y united to the driving axle 15. i

The back part of said deformable member. is formed by the lever 16 united by connecth "ing rod 17 to arm, 14, the hole 18 for the assage of spar 19 and prolongation 20 formmg the back armature of the wing, this pro longation being connected with the tail ed e 21.

aid part is also pivbtally connected by pivots 22 below the spar 19 while above it is slidable between the guides 23 and 24 rigidly united to said spar.

The recesses ,25 and their interior the back ends of strips 8 and 9. A convenient cover 27 rigidly united to said ends keeps unvaried when the stripaare sliding, the line of the stern profile of the wing canvas of the fore part is fixed while the .26 receive slidably in I canvas of the back part isfixed'independent- 1y below said cover.

The deformable members of the automatically flexible part (Fig. 2) in the front art are exactly equal to the deformable mem ers the back the armature or lever is attached above pivotally-in 28 on the back of spar 19 and abuts against the same spar so that and armatures besides keeping when flight is capsized the flexture of the stri s may be prevented, while the flexture of te strips on high in the planing flights is allowed, the gravity being then trans formed in driving force.- On said spar 19 on the upper and bottom side the sleeve shaped guides 29 and- 30 are fixed where the strips mayfreely'slide. 4

In the tail edge the strips are connected together respectivel by triangular shaped armatures 31- 32. lhe armature 31 is fixed on one side to strip 8,, while armature 32 is fixed to strip 9. p The two armatures are independent and abut against each other in their bases, an elastic member 33 connecting and pulling them to their place.

Convenient sleeves 34 fixed to the levers unvaried the profile of the wing serve as a guide for the sliding of the strips 8 and 9 in their flexure. A determined number of ties or bridges 35 rigidl connected to the spars 4and 19 keep the so idity of the wings structure,- the driving axle 15 operated by t e pilot by means of lever 36 being fixed on t e ties.

According to above description the deformable members of the automatically flexible part being more flexible from A towards B the win will be flexed obliquely.- with respect to the axis of the apparatus, consequentl also the components m will have the same ivergence to detriment of the speed but with the result of an automatic equilibrium of the wing surface when constructed as above mentioned and illustrated in Fig, 1.

'Owing to the diver ent components the deformable members i and B besides an initial flexure on high are subjected to a permanent deformation downwards towards the axis of the fuselage the flexure of the strips taking place according to theirown cross 1 section.

. driving force in the directi If we take a point whatever of-the back apart of the deformable member illustrated in 1g 2 when under the action of the gravity dur ng planin flights the resistance of the air is exerclse wing, said resistance will clearly act in the sense of the arrow R and will be decomposed mto the components at and n. The component n is. opposed to the gravit and m is a on of the flight.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is:

1. A wing for flying machines having a variable profile, comprising a air of spacedly arranged spars, a plurality of bridges rigidly connected to sa1d spars, a plurality of levers having apertures for the passage of on the bottom surface of the the spars pivotally connected to the underneath side of the front spar, guide members disposed on said front spar and adapted to guide said levers upon their movement, said levers being provided on their upper sides with recesses adapted to receive flexible strips forming'the profile of the wing, a plurality of back levers pivotally connected to the rear spar opposite said'front levers, and having apertures for the passage of the spar, guides on said spar adapted to guide said levers upon movement thereof, said levers having recesses in their upper sides for the passage of the flexible strips forming the wing, a plurality of sleeve members fixedly mounted on said levers for guiding the flexible strip and having a height proportioned to the profile of the Wing, and control means associated with'said levers whereby the profile of the wings is controlled by the pilot.

2. A two part flexible flying machine wing having a variable profile, comprising one part havincgits profile controlled by the pilot, a secon part being automatically exible said wing being arranged on a pair of 'spacedly arranged spars rigidly secured to a plurality of bridges, said part of the wing controlled by the pilot comprising a plurality of levers pivotally connected to the front spar and having apertures for the passage of the spar, said levers being provided on their upper sides with recesses adapted to receive and secure flexible strips forming the profile of the wing, a plurality of back levers pivotally connected to the rear spar opposite said.

front leversjhaving apertures for the passages of the spar, sai ever having recesses in their upper parts slidably engaging the flexible strips forming the wing, a plurality of sleeve members fix'edl mounted in spaced relation on said levers or guiding the flexible strips and having a height proportional to the profile of the wing, and control means file of the wing is controlled by the ilot.

3. A wing for flyin machines as c aimed in claim 2, having guide members disposed on the upper part of said spars for guiding said levers upon their movement thereof.

4. A two-part flexible flying machine wing having a variable profile, com rising one part having its rofile controlled a second part said wing being arranged on a pair 0 spacedl arranged spars rigidly secured to a plura ity of bridges, said part of the wing controlled by the pilot comprising a pluralty of levers pivotally connected to the front s ar and havmg apertures for the passage of t e spar, sa1d levers being provided on their upper sldes wlth recesses adapted to receive an secure flexible strips forming the profile of the wing, a plurality of back levers pivotally connected to the rear spar opposite said front levers having apertures for the pas- .associated with said levers whereby the prothe pilot, emg automatical y flexible sage of the spar, said lever having recesses in their upper parts slidably engaging the flex-' ible strips forming the wing, a plurality of sleeve members fixedly mounted in spaced relation on said levers for guiding the flexible strips and having a height proportional to the profile of the Wing, control means associated with said levers whereby the profile of the wing is controlled by the pilot, said second automatically flexible part comprising a plurality of triangular shaped back levers pivotally fulcrumed t0 the rear spar and extending backward fromsaid fore part of the wing, a pluralityof spacedly arranged sleeves having a height proportional to the profile of the wing fixedly mounted on said lever, a plurality of guides on the upper and lower part of the rear spar arranged to guide the flexible strip, which is held b the spacedly arranged sleeves, triangular s aped armatures connecting thetail edges of the strips together, and elastic means for holding the triangular armatures in their normal position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

. UGO ANTONI. 

